Cloud connected travel system with carrying case

Abstract

The present teachings include a carrying case that offers connectivity and versatility to a user including a housing of the carrying case having a main compartment and at least one technology compartment. The housing is configured to have a closed position and an open position that provides access to the main compartment for placement and removal of items in the carrying case. A mobile computing device is contained in the at least one technology compartment. The mobile computing device is configured to store at least one identifier for the user of the carrying case. A travel information module is associated with the mobile computing device to receive travel information of the user based on the at least one identifier of the user. The travel information includes at least one itinerary data item of the user.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 .- 75 . (canceled) 
     
     
         76 . A carrying case that offers connectivity and versatility to a user and is configured with a main compartment accessible for items, the carrying case comprising:
 a housing of the carrying case containing at least one technology compartment including a mobile computing device configured to store at least one identifier for the user of the carrying case; and   a travel information module associated with the mobile computing device to receive travel information of the user based on the at least one identifier of the user, the travel information including at least one itinerary data item of the user.   
     
     
         77 . The carrying case of  claim 76  further comprising a packing guidance module associated with the at least one identifier of the user and with the mobile computing device, wherein the packing guidance module is configured to generate a packing list based on a combination of the travel information and packing information associated with a capacity of the main compartment. 
     
     
         78 . The carrying case of  claim 76  wherein the housing includes an interface for the mobile computing device that is configured to receive a portion of the travel information from the user, wherein the interface includes at least one of an application programming interface and a network interface for receiving the portion of the travel information related to the user from a remote computer. 
     
     
         79 . The carrying case of  claim 76  wherein the travel information module is configured to connect to external sources and receive a portion of the travel information related to the user through the external sources, wherein the external sources include providers of travel services, and wherein the portion of the travel information includes information associated with the user and the at least one itinerary data item about at least one of a flight, a hotel, a restaurant, a rental car, a train, a bus, an event, a ticket, a reservation, a schedule, a location, a meeting, an activity, weather information, and a travel alert. 
     
     
         80 . The carrying case of  claim 77  wherein the packing information includes the capacity of the main compartment and the packing list is based on the capacity. 
     
     
         81 . The carrying case of  claim 77  wherein the packing information includes a capability of the main compartment and the packing list is based on the capability, and wherein the capability is at least one of a garment bag capability, a shoe bag capability, a toiletries case capability, a tie container capability, a make-up case capability, a shirt container capability, a suit holder capability, a dress holder capability, an accessories holder capability, an underwear holder capability and a hosiery holder capability. 
     
     
         82 . The carrying case of  claim 81  wherein the packing list is color coded to correspond to colors of at least one of the capabilities. 
     
     
         83 . The carrying case of  claim 78  wherein the packing guidance module is configured to query the user through at least one of the interface included with the housing and an application on the user's mobile device, wherein the packing guidance module is configured to receive from the user at least one of identification of an itinerary, dates of travel, a destination, and booking information relevant to the itinerary data item, and wherein upon receiving information, the mobile computing device of the carrying case initiates a search for additional information related to at least one of the user and the itinerary data item. 
     
     
         84 . The carrying case of  claim 83  wherein the search uses the at least one identifier of the user to search at least one travel service of the user for information related to the at least one itinerary data item and associated with at least one account of the user associated with the at least one travel service. 
     
     
         85 . The carrying case of  claim 84  wherein results of the search are used by the packing guidance module to further configure the packing list. 
     
     
         86 . The carrying case of  claim 83  wherein the query to the user includes one of confirming a portion of the travel information, modifying a portion of the travel information, and indicating a purpose for travel. 
     
     
         87 . The carrying case of  claim 77  wherein the packing guidance module includes a rules engine that applies a set of rules to generate a packing list including at least one of determining a number of outfits to pack based on the at least on itinerary data item, determining types of outfits to pack based on a destination associated with the at least one itinerary data item, determining types of outfits to pack based on weather at the destination associated with the at least one itinerary data item, determining types of sunscreen to pack based on the weather at the destination associated with the at least one itinerary data item, determining types of outfits to pack based on a purpose of the itinerary data item, and determining medications to pack based on the destination associated with the at least one itinerary data item. 
     
     
         88 . The carrying case of  claim 76  wherein the travel information module includes travel information based on a profile of the user and wherein the profile of the user is based on at least one of information entered by the user in response to queries in an interface of at least one of the mobile computing device, a mobile device of the user, and a browser used by the user; information obtained by tracking the usage of the carrying case by the user over a period of time; and information inferred based on similarity of at least one of the user and usage of information related to other users. 
     
     
         89 . The carrying case of  claim 88  further comprising a packing guidance module associated with the mobile computing device, wherein the packing guidance module uses the travel information, the user profile information, and information about the carrying case to produce a packing list for the user related to the at least one itinerary data item. 
     
     
         90 . The carrying case of  claim 89  further comprising a packing list intelligence facility connected to the packing guidance module that amends the packing list based on one of packing lists by other users who have taken trips similar to those associated with the at least one itinerary data item, feedback by at least one of the other users, and feedback by the user. 
     
     
         91 . The carrying case of  claim 89  further comprising a packing list intelligence facility connected to the packing guidance module that amends the packing list based on feedback by the user including one of a post-trip survey to the user, and querying the user to determine whether items on the packing were needed or not needed. 
     
     
         92 . The carrying case of  claim 88  further comprising user profile data connected to the packing guidance module that is configured to amend the packing list based on one of a desire detailed in the user profile to always have an extra outfit for each trip, and a desire detailed in the user profile to minimize a weight of the carrying case while packing the packing list in its entirety. 
     
     
         93 . The carrying case of  claim 77  wherein the packing guidance module is configured to track levels of remaining quantities of consumables listed on the packing list and indicate to the user when replenishment of the consumables is needed. 
     
     
         94 . The carrying case of  claim 77  wherein the packing guidance module is configured to obtain information about at least one item available from at least one destination associated with the itinerary data item and alter the packing list to omit an item based on the at least one item available at the destination. 
     
     
         95 . The carrying case of  claim 94  wherein the packing guidance module is configured to instruct the mobile computing device to pre-order at least one item available from the at least one destination associated with the itinerary data item for availability of the at least one item upon arrival of the user.